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Articles by Stefan Botha
Get more from AI at work
Back 7 September 2026 Get more from AI at work By Stefan Botha, CEO of Optimi Group Get more from AI at work with role-specific skills Are you looking for ways to use AI more effectively in your job? You are not alone. New learning data suggests that practical AI skills are becoming valuable across many careers.
Qualification reform is welcome
Back 27 July 2026 Qualification reform is welcome By Stefan Botha, CEO of College SA South Africa’s move to modernise parts of its post-school qualifications system is an important step towards building a more relevant and work-ready skills pipeline. However, the transition must be clearly communicated to learners, employers and training providers, particularly adult learners who are already balancing education with work and family responsibilities.
A Validated Full-Powertrain Digital Twin for an Electric Motorcycle Under Sub-Saharan African Operating Conditions
The digital twin’s overall accuracy compares favourably with existing electric vehicle powertrain models in the literature, despite the added complexity of simulating a motorcycle’s field-oriented control and battery current/voltage limiting behaviour rather than relying on a simplified driver model. The energy consumption error of within 2.71% for five of the six trips is comparable to the 0.6–1.9% accuracy reported for ADVISOR [10], a mature, industry-grade simulator.
First Choice expands dairy range with Velvet Milkshake variants
2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more Advertise your job vacancies Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries The First Choice Velvet Flavoured Dairy Dessert range has grown with the introduction of First Choice Velvet Milkshake, a convenient ready-to-drink format. According to Marilee Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen, brand manager at Woodlands Dairy and First Choice, the new product was developed in response to strong consumer demand identified through retail partnerships.
South Africa needs AI literacy with accountability
Recent reports that South African universities are tightening controls around the unethical use of artificial intelligence in assignments are not surprising. Across the sector, institutions are responding to a growing reality: students now have easy access to tools that can generate text, answer questions, solve problems and imitate original work at speed. Universities are right to protect academic integrity. A qualification must still reflect a student’s own competence, judgment and effort.
South Africa needs AI literacy with accountability
2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more Advertise your job vacancies Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries Recent reports that South African universities are tightening controls around the unethical use of artificial intelligence in assignments are not surprising. Across the sector, institutions are responding to a growing reality: students now have easy access to tools that can generate text, answer questions, solve problems and imitate original work at speed.
Beyond the AI clampdown
Back 21 May 2026 Beyond the AI clampdown By College SA By Stefan Botha, CEO of Optimi Recent reports that South African universities are tightening controls around the unethical use of artificial intelligence in assignments are not surprising. Across the sector, institutions are responding to a growing reality: students now have easy access to tools that can generate text, answer questions, solve problems and imitate original work at speed. Universities are right to protect academic integrity.
Women dominate SA property ownership
Advertise your job vacancies 2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more Women are active buyers and sellers in South Africa’s property market, and outnumber men as property owners. Source: Supplied. Hayley Ivins-Downes, managing executive Real Estate at Lightstone.
Women dominate SA property ownership
Advertise your job vacancies 2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more Women are active buyers and sellers in South Africa’s property market, and outnumber men as property owners. Source: Supplied. Hayley Ivins-Downes, managing executive Real Estate at Lightstone.
Celebrating International Workers' Day: Optimi's commitment to honouring and empowering our employees Original
Search jobs Since the landmark South African democratic elections of 1994, Workers' Day has been officially recognised and observed, carrying dual significance. It serves as both a commemoration of the hard-won rights of workers and a reminder of the invaluable role played by trade unions, the Communist Party, and other labour organisations in the struggle for equality.
Rainmaker Marketing releases Western Cape Property Market Report 2024
Rainmaker Marketing, a global property and lifestyle marketing agency, officially released its second Property Market Report on Thursday, 4 April 2024, which focuses on the dynamic Western Cape. Source: Supplied. Stefan Botha, director of Rainmaker Marketing.
Art’s impact on public spaces and developments
Renowned for his captivating sculptures showcased worldwide, Anton Smit shares his perspective in one of Rainmaker Marketing’s latest podcasts on the profound role of art in communal environments and the impact it has on property development and open public spaces. My favourite exhibition in a public space is a more recent one in Century City, Cape Town, namely Landscape of the Soul, spanning 33m. It can be found underneath a bridge under the main road in the precinct, named the Subway.
Art’s impact on public spaces and developments
Renowned for his captivating sculptures showcased worldwide, Anton Smit shares his perspective in one of Rainmaker Marketing’s latest podcasts on the profound role of art in communal environments and the impact it has on property development and open public spaces. My favourite exhibition in a public space is a more recent one in Century City, Cape Town, namely Landscape of the Soul, spanning 33m. It can be found underneath a bridge under the main road in the precinct, named the Subway.
More solo women than men applying for bonds to buy their own homes
More solo women than men applied for bonds to buy their own homes last year, with BetterBond helping close to 20,000 women become homeowners. Many of these solo women buyers were young black women under the age of 40, says Bradd Bendall, BetterBond interim chief executive officer and head of sales. “This shows that when it comes to buying property, women are proving to be formidable drivers of market activity.
#BizTrends2024: Emerging developments in the home loan landscape
Last year could have been defined as the ‘financial tipping point’ for many South Africans, but experts still believe that 2024 will bring some much-needed relief in the form of interest-rate cuts from the second quarter onwards. Source: Supplied. Rhys Dyer is the chief executive officer of ooba Home Loans. And while consumer affordability cannot simply be repaired overnight, the residential property sector hopes that some financial reprieve will reignite the demand for homes.
#BizTrends2024: Continued rise of women in property ownership
As we step into 2024, the momentum gained in 2023 - with women emerging as the primary driving force in property ownership - is expected to continue reshaping the real estate sector. Source: Supplied. Stefan Botha, director of Rainmaker Marketing. The latest data from Lightstone continues to underscore the trend, revealing that women have solidified their dominance, constituting an impressive 60% of new property buyers in South Africa.
#BizTrends2024: Emerging developments in the home loan landscape
Last year could have been defined as the ‘financial tipping point’ for many South Africans, but experts still believe that 2024 will bring some much-needed relief in the form of interest-rate cuts from the second quarter onwards. Source: Supplied. Rhys Dyer is the chief executive officer of ooba Home Loans. And while consumer affordability cannot simply be repaired overnight, the residential property sector hopes that some financial reprieve will reignite the demand for homes.
#BizTrends2024: Continued rise of women in property ownership
As we step into 2024, the momentum gained in 2023 - with women emerging as the primary driving force in property ownership - is expected to continue reshaping the real estate sector. Source: Supplied. Stefan Botha, director of Rainmaker Marketing. The latest data from Lightstone continues to underscore the trend, revealing that women have solidified their dominance, constituting an impressive 60% of new property buyers in South Africa.
5 things keeping landlords and agents up at night
2 days7 days30 daysBy Industry Show more Advertise your job vacancies According to PayProp’s Rental Index report for Q3 2023, South Africa has now achieved eight successive quarters – two whole years – of positive rental growth, but the market hasn’t turned the corner yet. While this is a huge relief for residential rental professionals and landlords after several years of challenging market conditions, there are still some hurdles facing the rental market’s ongoing recovery.
5 things keeping landlords and agents up at night
According to PayProp’s Rental Index report for Q3 2023, South Africa has now achieved eight successive quarters – two whole years – of positive rental growth, but the market hasn’t turned the corner yet. While this is a huge relief for residential rental professionals and landlords after several years of challenging market conditions, there are still some hurdles facing the rental market’s ongoing recovery.
Optimi Workplace welcomes new managing director, Aunyana Moloisane
Moloisane holds a BCom Honours degree and a Master’s of Business Leadership, specialising in strategy, and is currently working towards obtaining his Doctorate in Business Leadership. He joined the Optimi group as its chief business development officer in November 2018, and assumed the position as Optimi Classroom’s managing director in July 2021. Under his guidance, Optimi Classroom has established its position as one of South Africa’s most important providers of supplementary basic education.
Single women outpacing men, married couples in property ownership
Search jobs According to Lightstone data, many of the women buyers who own at least 60% of the country's residential housing stock are single. In fact, more women bought property on their own between 2015 and 2020 than men or married couples, says Carl Coetzee, CEO of BetterBond. “This percentage of single women entering the real estate market is likely to have increased in the past two years, as women are waiting longer to get married.
Education & Training in South Africa
Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries
How the business of education can change SA for the better
Monday, March 7, 2022 - 2:26pm Finding solutions to unemployment, poverty and inequality has become the biggest challenge facing our country in a generation. This challenge is so pertinent that President Cyril Ramaphosa went as far as to propose a “new consensus” in this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
SOPA2022:
Premier Alan Winde left no stone unturned in his no-holds barred State of the Province address (SOPA) today. Source: Supplied. Premier Alan Winde presented his SOPA in front of Betty Zodumo and Duli Mkinase who run Siyakula soup kitchen in Gugulethu, Dumisani Ntsodo from Ikasi Soccer School in Khayelitsha and Marlon Parker, the founder of RLabs. This is the third time that SOPA has been held at a remote destination with livestreaming capabilities made available to attendees.
Restructure, innovation and new opportunities take the country into a new era
By 15m ago By Stefan Botha WHILE the latest State of the Nation Address 2022 (Sona) might not have provided the nation with as much urgency and a stronger commitment to accelerating infrastructure roll-out, there were still some positives gleaned from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech last week that the property industry can take solace from.
Opportunities the property industry can capitalise on following #SONA2022
The structure of any building is determined by its foundation, materials and workmanship - the cracks will show over time and the infrastructure will crumble if not built carefully to withstand external elements over time. It's evident that the state of disaster, Covid-19 pandemic, state capture and civil unrest have shaken the house of South Africa, exposing its cracks and uncovering its flaws.
Construction and infrastructure cornerstone of change for SA
By Opinion 24m ago By Stefan Botha The themes of the State of the Nation included, among others; economic recovery, stimulating investment, sustainable yet significant job creation and unlocking integrated energy resources. While these themes are consistent with years before, its actions are what will define it from any other.
Drop in basis points widens the door of opportunity in the property market
By Stefan Botha 5m ago DURBAN - The headlines have been inundated with coronavirus (Covid-19) cases rising across the globe. Schools, shopping centres, popular public spots, sports events across the globe have come to a stop to prevent large gatherings of people in hopes of managing the spread of the pandemic.
OPINION: Is the budget fit for property growth?
Opinion / 26 February 2020, 09:30am / Stefan Botha Stefan Botha is the Director of Rainmaker Marketing Photo: Supplied DURBAN - The Budget Speech, which will be presented by the Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni on Wednesday, 26 February, holds huge consequences for the public, businesses and industries across the board. This speech will give investors within South Africa and abroad insight into the current economy and the measures proposed to achieve future objectives.
State of the Nation Address to trigger the property market
Economy / 13 February 2020, 6:00pm / Stefan Botha Stefan Botha is the Director of Rainmaker Marketing Photo: Supplied DURBAN – The State of The Nation will have a massive impact on the sentiments going forward for the rest of the year for the general public, industries across the board, as well as with investor confidence.
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